Public Speaking Training in the Age of AI: Why It Still Matters

Eleni KelakosAI, Charismatic Presence, Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Presence, Public Speaking

Is public speaking training even necessary anymore? “You know what I’ve been hearing a lot lately?” Eleni, now that AI can help people write presentations, is public speaking training even necessary anymore? My short answer? Absolutely. AI Can Give You Words—But Not Presence AI is brilliant at spitting out words. But words alone don’t win hearts, spark action, or make someone leave thinking, “That talk changed me.” That kind of impact comes from presence—from you showing up genuine, grounded, and human. Your voice. Your quirks. Your energy. Your humanity. Or, as I like to say, your yumminess. Training Isn’t About …

Maximize Your Physical Presence: Why How You Stand Changes Everything

Eleni KelakosBody Language, Confident Speakers, Executive Presence, Leadership, Professional Speakers, Professional Tips, Public Presence, Public Speaking Tips

Maximize Your Physical Presence: I was taking a walk a few days ago when a neighbor stopped me with a compliment that made my day: “I was just thinking about you—actually, I was trying to stand like you do! Your posture is always so good!” Her comment brought me back to a packed NYC dance studio years ago, where I first learned a life-changing lesson about posture, space, and confidence. When You Shrink, So Does Your Impact Back in my 20s, while training to become a professional actor, I squeezed my six-foot frame into a dance class crowded with leotard-clad …

The Power of Genuine Human Connection | Presence & Compassion in Action

Eleni KelakosCommunication Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Human Connection, Leadership, Personal Growth, Public Presence, Public Speaking

Genuine human connection… I knew something was wrong the moment she crumpled into the plastic airport lounge chair across from me. Her eyes were red and swollen. A crumpled tissue trembled in her hand. But the real giveaway was the crisply folded American flag in a clear plastic case that rested on her lap like a sacred relic. Every now and then, she’d hug it like it was alive. Without knowing the full story, I could feel it: deep, aching grief. I told myself to give her space. Let her be. Don’t interfere. But then, she ended a phone call …